Sep 7, 2025
A snowy sheathbill (Chionis albus) in Maldonado, Uruguay.
Common names include the snowy sheathbill, pale-faced sheathbill, and paddy.
by Guillermo Menéndez
seen from Nepal
seen from United Arab Emirates
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Germany
seen from Argentina
seen from Japan
seen from Belgium
seen from United States
seen from Colombia
seen from Pakistan
seen from United States
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Bangladesh
seen from United States
seen from Russia
seen from United States
A snowy sheathbill (Chionis albus) in Maldonado, Uruguay.
Common names include the snowy sheathbill, pale-faced sheathbill, and paddy.
by Guillermo Menéndez
Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), family Chionidae, order Charadriiformes, Ushuaia, Argentina
The only landbird native to the Antarctic continent (found on the Antarctic Peninsula), but are also found on nearby islands and the southern tip of South America.
The opportunistic feeders eat wide variety of items, including feces, carrion, chicks and eggs, and are well known for stealing regurgitated seafood as parents try to feed their chicks.
photograph by Jose | Tropical Birding Tours
Sheathbill (Chionidae) family (genus Chionis)
Which is the best bird?
Snowy sheathbill
Black-faced sheathbill
This genus is monotypic in its family.
Snowy sheathbill (Chionis albus)
Photo by Jon Atkinson
Chionis albus by Nigel Voaden